Eugene Melnyk wasn’t referring to the team’s place in the standings when he declared that it “doesn’t get any better (than this)” following his team’s acquisition of Matt Duchene on Nov. 5, but almost two months later, it’s easy to make light of the quote being inadvertently prophetic.

Since then, the results simply haven't gone the Ottawa Senators’ way.

Prior to last night's wild win over the San Jose Sharks, over the course of the 24 games that followed the trade the Senators had not only scored the fewest number of goals in the league (48), they'd amassed a league-worst a 6-14-4 record (0.333).

It’s not surprising to see some suggest the trade as a catalyst for this brutal stretch of hockey.